Nerd Gone Prom Queen

Chapter Twenty-Three

It was lunch time and Zack and I were sitting at a giant family picnic table. I sat with people I despised. Of course Riley sat across from me with Aunt Rena by her side.

"So lets get down to business". Aunt Rena began.

"Let me just stop you there". I interrupted.

"There is no business, no negotiation, no amount of talking you could do to make me agree to anything your about to say. And with that being said, you have let Carter hype you up into talking to me, when there isn't anything to talk about. I am holding a grudge and it will never go away and I'm gonna live my life this way because I will never forget what you or your daughter put me through". I spat.

I finished eating and threw my trash in the garbage. Zack followed behind me.

"Need a hug?". He held his arms out taking in the expression on my face.

"Yes". I whispered walking into his arms.

We just hugged for about two minutes before going on some more rides.

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Around 11pm we all headed to the Cinderella Castle to watch some fireworks. Zack and I went up closer away from the rest of the group.

"I had fun today, with you". He sighed looking straight ahead.

"I had fun with you too". I smiled at him.

"You know I have a conflicting feeling when I'm with you". He blurted after a minute of silence.

"Why?". I frowned.

Just then the fireworks started and snatched my attention away.

"Because I love you". I think I heard Zack say through all the explosion.

I turned to him. He was looking to me.

"You what?". I frowned.

"I love you". He repeated taking me by the shoulders.

"You-how? But you said-I thought you were-were you lying to me this whole time?". I stuttered.

"Not at first. But as I got to know you my feelings grew". He sighed nervously.

"Come on you two time to hit the road". Mom interrupted.

I quickly followed after her leaving Zack behind.

How could he just lose those feelings?  That he liked guys, but then when I came along that just stopped. I didn't believe that. Things like that don't just stop. Mom got into the front seat of a cab that sat at the front gate.

"Mind if I sit up front?". I asked uncomfortably.

"Sure no problem". She smiled getting in the back.

I huffed sliding into the front seat.

"The hotel is holding our bags at the front desk. We'll stop there and head back to the airport. Grandma went back to the hotel to make sure they took the right bags, so we just need Zack to hurry up before your Father gets back to the hotel". She planned.

Once she finished talking, Zack got into the cab angrily.

"What happened between you two?". Mom looked between us.

"Some things just don't go how you planned". Zack mumbled.

"And exactly how did you expect that to go Zack?!". I spat from the front seat as we began driving.

"Drop it". He sighed looking at his phone.

I rolled my eyes and turned forward.

A few minutes later we made it back to the hotel. I left Mom and Zack at the cab and went up to the front desk.

"Hello, I was in room 145 and the staff assured me they'd pet sit my dog Bailey and I'm here to pick him up". I smiled.

"Yes ma'am could you please show me some form of I.D". She instructed.

I handed her my drivers license.

"Alrighty they'll bring him right out". She handed my drivers license back.

Minutes later a man came out with Bailey in his arms.

I took Bailey and kissed him all over his face.

"Mommy missed you sooo much". I cooed.

I tipped the guy and went back to the cab, where Mom, Zack, and Grandma waited inside with all our bags.

I got into the backseat with Mom and Zack and we were off to the airport. Just as we were leaving the hotel parking lot, Dad had just drove up.

"He just realized we were gone". Mom chuckled.

"How do you know?". I smirked.

"He's calling me". She giggled.

In silence, we drove to the airport. It wasn't even that comfortable silence. It was the weird type, where someone had said something weird and you just walked in after it.

An hour passed before we reached the airport. We got our bags and I had already fed Bailey a sleeping pill. I slid him and his favorite toy in his carrier and grabbed the rest of my bags. We went through TSA and made it to our gate, to get into the airplane. I looked back at Florida one last time only to see my Father running after us.

"God? Do I ever get a break?". I asked looking up.

"So that's it Maddy? You just skip out on me, without me knowing?". Dad spat.

"I don't have to explain anything to you. I'm a grown woman and I can do whatever I want. Your not my husband, or did you forget?". She chuckled.

"Maddy, So you just walk out on this? What we are trying to work for?". He frowned.

"No, you mean what your trying to work for". She smiled.

I give Mom her props, she was keeping her cool in all this, she was even smiling.

"Maddison! How could you treat me like this?! After all I've done for you?! For Iris?!". He shouted causing people to look at us.

"You haven't done a damn thing, except leave a trail of dust. Because as soon as the next best thing comes, you'll just leave us again". She began to get angry.

"That was one time! Can't you see I'm trying to make a better life for us, I'm sure Iris wants both her parents around". He pleaded.

"Listen to me Carter! We were fine when you left, we were fine while you were gone, hell we'll be even happier once you leave". She smirked.

At this point, security came over to "defuse" the situation. Dad turned to walk away, but in a flash he spun around and his hand slapped across Mom's face and she crumbled to the ground. I lunged over the security guards and landed right on Dad causing us to fall. I wrapped my hands around his throat and began choking him until Zack pulled me off. Dad was rolling on the ground holding his bruised neck. I snatched away from Zack and went over to Mom.

"Mommy are you ok?" I asked inspecting her face.

"I'm fine, you didn't have to do that". She sighed holding her face.

I helped her up and we all boarded the plan.